Chinese trans by akariMANIA
Subject to inaccuracy due to this being a second hand trans.
Kamiki has a holy presence on the set–Nishijima seems to be very interested in Kamiki.
N: I first heard from the staff that Kamiki gave off a holy presence at the filming location. Even though it’s also a bit awkward to say that in front of the person in question, he has a really strong aura this very moment. (laughs embarrassedly)
N: This is probably a unique trait that only the chosen ones have. For the staff to have this sort of impression, I am able to understand. Since his childhood, Kamiki has been consistently acting with the brightest stars of the day, and I find this very special.
N: That was said so casually. (laughs)
K: No I didn’t, no I didn’t! Just hearing about you going to the gym to make your physique look more sturdy is already…
N: We’re talking about the period when I acted as Kuraki (in MOZU) and Kikuta (in Strawberry Night).
K: According to the character’s profile, there are times when one has to choose to work out, and also times when one is determined to completely mould one’s body. Other examples also include times when the Nounai members converse with one another and Nishijima would unknowingly say some opinions that made me feel that he is a very serious and reliable person.
K: Because Nishijima is someone who honestly expresses what he feels in his heart, for example, “This is how I feel about it… …”. Such a manner of expressing his own opinion is very handsome and cool. There is a feeling of him living thoroughly and truly as his true self. [T/N: Vocab error in Chinese trans. Meaning unclear. Translation based on context.]
N: This is my first time being praised. (laughs) Although I’m not aware of what I did. This time, the director gave Kamiki a really challenging task. Bearing the great pressure from the pessimistic Yoshida on one hand, and having to transform all of it into positive energy as a counter on the other. Also, Yoshida can get angry and say ‘You!! This person!!’, but Kamiki’s character cannot be angered. Not being able to be angry yet also not losing to the opponent [in the argument]. There were also many times when he was requested to adlib.
K: When adlibbing, one has to be fully positive or negative in order to act it well, so I was constantly in a abnormally high emotional state. (laughs)
N: In the second half of the film, Kamiki’s Ishibashi will undergo a sudden change. Although I feel that the scenes where Ishibashi eagerly tries to persuade the others are difficult to act, but after watching the film, I think that Kamiki is very amazing since he was able to act so naturally. It’s a very relaxed state. I kept wondering what was happening. [T/N: this sentence is unclear.]
K: Am I viewed by y'all as such!?
N: To others it appears as if you acted in a very relaxed state. [T/N: meaning: as if it wasn’t a challenge] But after being through the filming, I suppose one can understand how demanding the director’s requests were. Although Kamiki could act it out easily [immediately] after replying ‘Okay’, but everyone kept thinking [with ref to the director’s request] 'It is impossible’ as we watched you act.
N: Seems like you aren’t aware of it yourself. Did you worry about it before? But you’ll probably at least [pause and] consider it for a moment right after the director presents his request.
K: I will think 'If I act it in this manner, how would that turn out?’ Like the degree of emotions and the pitch of my voice and how those would be received by the audience. I usually organise these thoughts/recreate scenarios [Original: 在脑海里构筑画面] as I act.
N: You indeed look at your acting subjectively.
K: I’ll unknowingly do it….The filming process this time was very delightful because I could become very positive .
N: Perhaps it could be also because we’re not from the same generation, [but] I have always felt that you have a unique acting style.
–Nishijima also gives a totally different feel with each character he portrays. He gives the stoic impression. [T/N: Chinese puts it as 禁欲. I am not sure abt its p
definition in modern day Mainland China Internet slang, so I translated it as stoic. 禁欲: ascetic? stoic? able to control desires? From here on, I will indicate it. Anyone who mnows Japanesd is welcome to offer better translations.]
K: (grinning) 'He gives a stoic [禁欲] impression.'
N: Don’t describe me like that. (laughs) I was rather stubborn regarding spectacles this time round.
K: I was wondering when the topic of spectacles would be brought up.
N: I was told by the director that I only had to sit between Ishibashi and Ikeda and appear to waver [between the two opposing views]. (laughs) Then I started to ponder about how to craft my character, so I felt that I should perhaps begin from the spectacles. I went to all types of spectacles shops in the capital. I also watched many movies that had meeting scenes. I did these until I found a pair that made me go, “This is the pair that this character should wear in this movie!” But when I prepared the spectacles and showed them to the director, he easily rejected it [T/N: Oh Nishijima you poor thing] , so my character crafting also came easily to an end. (laughs)
For example, specs will often have cracks appearing on it [T/N: This was very unclear in Chinese. It makes no sense, unless they were referring to how specs crack in mangas to express great shock], and in reality, spectacles also have a lot of meaning in it.
N: Yes. Of course, wearing spectacles with a simpler design as per the director’s instructions was ultimately more suitable for this film. But because I had a strong fixation on spectacles, so I fell [T/N: Wording unclear in context.] into it easily.
K: Running to so many different spectacle shops to search, it was really very persistent [禁欲] of you. [T/N: Here, Kamiki begins to enter teasing mode]
N: I wasn’t really very stoic [禁欲]. [T/N: Tone is more of like 'Nah not really’] I was quite happy.
K: Also, when going to the gym to train, he will say stuff like 'When I choose roles to portray, I will pick those that have a certain degree of risk’ that are very cool. But Nishijima, also binges on snacks on set. (laughs)
N: I couldn’t resist. (laughs) I’m not the least bit stoic. (laughs) To be honest, the risk thing isn’t really that amazing. When I was trying out the costumes for Strawberry Night, I told Director Sato that I wanted to try wearing police uniforms from the past; those had more loose fitting trousers, and the moment I wore them, everyone roared with laughter. Everyone said, 'Nobody dresses like this today.’ (laughs) Then the director asked me, 'Which one do you want to wear?’, so I replied, 'Which one has the greater risk?’ and the director told me it was the loose fitting one. So I said, 'Let’s try this then’ and chose that outfit. And that was what happened.
K:But usually one would choose clothes that are easier to move in. I find this aspect of Nishijima very cool.
If I could choose, I hope to choose someone beside those two…
–Speaking of which, the main character Sakurai wavers between Ochi, the kindhearted editor who [unfortunately] does not give one palpitations and Saotome, who makes one’s heart beat nonstop yet does not feel very reliable. What do y'all think of these two male characters?
N: They are literally from the 2 extremes. If it is possible, find others [to be the boyfriend]…. (laughs)
K: Besides those two…(laughs)
–If only those two were left on Earth…?
K: That’s very hard to choose, but I’ll tell Oshi, 'Try saying this’, and make him say some lines that would make hearts beat. (laughs)
N: Ah, that way the problem is solved.
K: If she saw Ochi driving, perhaps Sakurai will also have heart palpitations.
N: But didn’t Oshi drive in the movie? Sakurai totally didn’t experience anything, even when Ochi wanted to kiss, Sakurai ignored him. (laughs)
K: That was indeed the case. (laughs)
N: To Saotome, one should say, 'You should be more serious.’ (laughs)
N: 'Go and work’ and stuff along those lines.
K: Ochi should go and read more shoujo manga. [T/N: Great suggestion Kamiki LOL]
N: To let him learn from them? (laughs)
Please imagine each other’s brain.
K: Initially, I thought Nishijima was Reason. After all, he has always given me the impression of stoic [禁欲] person, which includes the topic of him shaping his body [in the gym]. Plus, once he decides on something, he will act on it, so I thought that he’s the type to logically choose the path most advantageous to his future. I used to think like this, but then I saw him binge-eating snacks on set. (laughs)
N: That was very impulsive…even though I’m not 鸠子. (laughs) [T/N: I have no idea whether they were referring to the bird, a light novel character, or some other person so I’m leaving the word as it is.)Kamiki is really unbelievable, I think he probably has an immense amount of impulse hidden within him, because I can feel this energy. But he has powerful reason, or in his case, intellectual ability, so even when his impulse kicks in, when he needs to step on the brakes, intellect plays its role well. [T/N: I have a sneaking feeling that either the Chinese translator used 知性 incorrectly or I incorrectly translated it to 'intellect’.] That’s the feeling I have. I can’t verbalise it very well. [Talking abt Kamiki’s brain] More than 5 characters mixed with each other, but compared to the chaos in Sakurai’s brain where each only cares about airing his/her opinion, it seems to move towards the same thing with a common focus between all of them, that is what I think. He probably has a lot of interests and hobbies.
N: So, I think when he sees something new which he wants to learn, he will probably have a strong desire and drive towards the things he has interest in. But he probably doesn’t really display this side to other people. Even when negative emotions appear, it can’t be seen from the surface.
K: Looking very calm but actually feeling very down. (laughs)
N: Right, right! So one somehow feels that there is something still hidden. When saying 'I like this A LOT (very vehemently) !’, it was also a very calm expression. (laughs)
K: But my heart was already doing the Awa-odori. (laughs) [T/N: Awa is the old feudal administration name for Tokushima prefecture, and odori means dance. There’s a dance festival called Awa Dance Festival which is part of the Obon festival in Tokushima Prefecture.]
N: The brain is already in an unexpected state. (laughs) Although I feel that Kamiki will have the abovementioned characteristics, but as expected, there is still a feeling of complicatedness. A feeling that he isn’t a simple person.
–After confirming each other’s answers, what are your feelings?
K: Actually I’m not very sure which emotion I usually live with in daily life either. However, if I had to choose, it should consist of positivity, negativity and reason, there are others too…
N: But if one’s interest towards something is sparked and is able to immediately convert it into action, if one doesn’t have a certain amount of impulse…
K: The impulse in this aspect is very strong. But whether to allow free reign for the impulse to go forward on its own will be decided by reason. For example, when I feel that this singer’s songs are really great, I will purchase this singer’s albums in large quantities. (laughs)
–What is your opinion of Nishijima?
N: If it’s about me, then I’m not the least bit logical [lacks reason]. (laughs) I am very simple.
[T/N: Skipped a small part here since it wasn’t related to Kamiki and the movie. I got lazy.]
–I think filming for a movie is a relatively special situation, for example, the method for concentrating. During these times, will y'all enter a different condition from the normal you?
K: I think those [actors] who can completely become their characters are the winners. Even though I will still have the usual thoughts like 'Hearing Ikeda’s lines, I think she will stop her speech here, so Ishibashi must speak up here’, but even in these situations, the one who completely enters their character wins, so I believe that acting thoroughly would be better.
N: Mmhmm. It’s certainly like that. I think so too.
K: If one makes a mistake, the director would also point it out.
K: I will just try out everything that I thought of. Regarding the character, it’s the same as personalities; so long one has sufficient understanding of it, then dealing with speech mannerisms, the way the character moves etc will become merely an addition to the character’s special traits.
N: I act using this perspective too. Immersing myself into the character, if it is not to the extent where others ask 'Is it necessary to go that far?’, I believe that it [T/N: referring to the crafting and acting of the character] will be unable to be completed.
K: Compared to lacking in certain areas, it is still better to have a bit of excess left.
–Then, after filming had ended, would y'all return to your normal [mental] condition?
N: When I’m not working, and I think Kamiki is the same, I will immerse myself into things I like, such as films and music, besides, doing this would also be good for my acting…of course, it’s not done for [to upgrade] my acting skills. Kamiki too, the amount of information entering your brain is very great right?
K: Yes. I think I’m a person who can be counted as having a wide range of interests, but my life is surprisingly normal. I’ll pursue things that make me happy during rest, saying things such as 'Indeed, this book makes me feel the happiest!’ [T/N: The Chinese trans didn’t have any punctuation and so I restructured it to what I think it could have meant.]
K: Pursuing these sort of things. It’s unexpectedly normal. (laughs)
–Then lastly, could y'all please tell us the scenes of each other that y'all have the deepest impression of?
K: The part where Ichiko’s real-life parts and Nishijima’s lines are synchronised. Even though it was cut out from the movie, Nishijima actually said Ichiko’s lines too.
N: Even though it might make some unhappy, but I said them with Ichiko’s emotions. (laughs)
N: Saying (imitates the tone of a girl) 'This is a xiao long bao ♡’ (laughs) He looked like he enjoyed it.
[T/N: Ah I want to hear Kamiki using a girlish tone LOL]
N: (laughs) Kamiki’s Ishibashi was originally very positive and upbeat, but in the second half of the movie, he will display expressions different from that before. A person who was very positive up till that day suddenly started to weaken, he looked
K: (gives Nishijima a doubtful look that says 'Really?’)
N: What expression is that! (laughs)
